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I want to grab her and take her there and then And daood

I clenchvoice in et your knickers in a twist I stare out of theas the familiar streets rush by I have done this journey thousands of tiht

Its name is Tasha Evanoff Her perfume Her presence, the creamy whiteness of her soft skin, the innocence in her wide eyes I a but pain and ruin Even touching the Princess would be defiling her, and yet, I cannot stop myself

She isis about to becohtmare I cannot resist her call I’ve played this out in ht It’s just lust When the sun comes up it will be over I won’t chase her I won’t ruin her life Just one night

As the car eats up the miles, every cell in my body heats up, becomes super alert Like a wolf I can hear her heartbeat, feel the heat co from her body

The car comes to a set out and Viktor rushes to open the door for her She gets out and looks at me I thank Viktor and he drives off

Cold wind drags at her clothes and hair She hugs herself

‘My place,’ I say softly

‘It’s nice,’ she replies without sarcash ceilings and tall s But old and marble palace she lives in Russians with money are like Arabs Flashy They invest in ostentation

‘Sure you want to do this?’

She reaches out a hand and, with her thuht cheek Staring at me she holds it in front of my lips It is an old Russian superstition: if an eyelash falls out you will receive a gift My chest feels tight My mother used to do this toa wish

I blow Strands of her blonde hair lift away from her neck

She blinks ‘Did you make a wish?’

I nod How surprised she would be if she knehat I wished for How surprised I a wish None of the wishes I made when my mother held the eyelash ever ca to either

We walk up the steps and I put the key in my door I close the door and watch her look at her surroundings

‘Want a drink?’ I offer

‘If you’ll have one too?’

I walk to the first reception rooht

She laughs, a breathless sound ‘Wow, it’s beautiful’